There’s no doubt: College students are facing an unusually high amount of stress this semester. And it’s not just the winter blues. In a new survey recently released by leading telehealth firm Timely MD, nearly nine out of ten college students report a major mental health crisis across the nation’s college campuses.

Mental health experts at Centenary University point to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is entering its third year, as a significant source of stress for college students. In fact, a national survey of almost 1,700 students revealed that 70% of college students feel emotional distress and anxiety resulting from the pandemic and 51% say they are more stressed and anxious than last January. In New Jersey, 70% of college students report having a higher level of anxiety than a year ago, according to a study by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

College presidents are equally concerned. In a 2021 survey conducted by Inside Higher Ed, 96% of U.S. college and university presidents surveyed said the mental health of students is a top concern, while 94% reported the same of their employees. Centenary University President Bruce Murphy, Ed.D., a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army who has studied the effects of stress in the military, said, “There is universal agreement that mental health has to be a top priority on all of our campuses. At Centenary, we’ve seen a definite increase in the number of students seeking counseling support since the beginning of the academic year. While there’s a general call to begin moving on and living with the pandemic, COVID-19 will continue to have long-lasting effects on everyone, including college students.”

Winter is a particularly fraught time for students. Cold and snowy weather restricts many outdoor activities, which has an impact on overall well-being. Mikolaya Nynka, LPC, director of the Centenary University Counseling Center, reported a 24% increase in the number of students seeking services compared to fall 2020.

Nynka explained that while she prefers to see students in person, counseling sessions have been mostly virtual due to COVID-19. The Counseling Center also hosts an online wellness platform, YOU@Centenary, designed to meet the needs of the whole student and tailored specifically to Centenary University and its campus resources. Last semester, the University also invited the Warren County Hope One Initiative to campus. The mobile resource provides lifesaving resources to those struggling with substance abuse and addiction.

Help is available 24/7 for anyone experiencing mental health, depression, or self-harming issues: Text NJ to 741741 for free crisis support from New Jersey MentalHealth Cares or call NJ Hopeline at 1-855-654-6735.